alone
know it; because Louis XVIII. never revealed the truth to that poor
Madame de Cinq-Cygne; and because the present government which I serve
is wholly indifferent as to whether the truth be known to the world or
not.

"All four of these personages sat down in the boudoir. The lame man
undoubtedly closed the door before a word was said; it is even thought
that he ran the bolt. It is only persons of high rank who pay attention
to such trifles. The three priests had the livid, impassible faces which
you all remember. Carnot alone was ruddy. He was the first to speak.
'What is the point to be discussed?' he asked. 'France,' must have been
the answer of the Prince (whom I admire as one of the most extraordinary
men of our time). 'The Republic,' undoubtedly said Fouche. 'Power,'
probably said Sieyes."

All present looked at each other. With voice, look, and gesture de
Marsay had wonderfully represented the three men.

"The three priests fully understood one another," he continued, resuming
his narrative. "Carnot no doubt looked at his colleagues and the
ex-consul in a dignified manner. He must, however, have felt bewildered
in his own mind.

"'Do you believe in the success of the army?' Sieyes said to him.

"'We may expect everything from Bonaparte,' replied the minister of war;
'he has crossed the Alps.'

"'At this moment,' said the minister of foreign affairs, with deliberate
slowness, 'he is playing his last stake.'

"'Come, let's speak out,' said Fouche; 'what shall we do if the First
Consul is defeated? Is it possible to collect another army? Must we
continue his humble servants?'

"'There is no republic now,' remarked Sieyes; 'Bonaparte is consul for
ten years.'

"'He has more power than ever Cromwell had,' said the former bishop,
'and he did not vote for the death of the king.'

"'We have a master,' said Fouche; 'the question is, shall we continue to
keep him if he loses the battle or shall we return to a pure republic?'

"'France,' replied Carnot, sententiously, 'cannot resist except she
reverts to the old Conventional _energy_.'

"'I agree with Carnot,' said Sieyes; 'if Bonaparte returns defeated we
must put an end to him; he has let us know him too well during the last
seven months.'

"'The army is for him,' remarked Carnot, thoughtfully.

"'And the people for us!' cried Fouche.

"'You go fast, monsieur,' said the Prince, in that deep bass voice which
he still preserves and which now drove Fo